Chapter 37
“Oh my! Duchess, are you feeling unwell?”
As Eliana returned to the drawing room on the first floor, the Countess, who met her eyes, gasped in alarm.
It seemed her pale complexion couldn’t be fully concealed by makeup.
“I’m all right.”
Though her legs still trembled beneath her, Eliana sat back in her seat and replied as calmly as she could.
“I think I’m just a little out of breath from going up and down the stairs.”
She lifted her teacup with a composed expression, but her hand—drained of strength—trembled slightly.
‘All that just from going upstairs?’
Freya’s gaze fell on Eliana’s quivering hand, her mind stirring with thought.
‘She looks like someone who might drop dead even if I left her alone.’
In truth, Freya had been watching Eliana closely from the moment she stepped back into the room.
Though the Duchess pretended to be fine, she could barely hold a teacup. Her legs shook as she walked. And her clothes were damp with cold sweat.
‘Could it be aftereffects from the poison?’
Even beyond her frail appearance, the Duchess was far weaker than Freya had imagined.
‘Perhaps this will be easier than I thought.’
A woman who barely survived poisoning by sheer luck.
‘If she’s like this, I might not even need poison.’
As Eliana sipped her tea, Freya calmly searched for a better method.
‘Maybe… I should start off light?’
A subtle, undetectable way to kill the Duchess.
“Um, Freya,” Eliana began cautiously, just as Freya lifted her teacup with a serene smile, recalling her first plan.
Now it was Eliana’s turn to cast the bait.
“There’s something I’ve always wanted to do if I ever made a friend… Would it be too much to ask?”
“If it’s something I can help with, of course,” Freya replied, gently setting her teacup down, her expression growing even more relaxed.
“I never got to have a pajama party before getting married… I’d love to try it once.”
“Oh, Duchess! That’s a lovely idea. Pajama parties are best experienced while we’re still young. Once a baby arrives, you won’t have the chance for things like that again.”
To Eliana’s surprise, it was the Countess who responded—enthusiastically, even.
“That’s not such a difficult request.”
Thankfully, Freya’s reaction wasn’t negative either.
‘A dying woman’s last wish. Why not grant it?’
Though her thoughts were cold, her face remained pleasant.
“Oh! Then may I ask you to host it?”
Since a party at the Duke’s estate wouldn’t serve her purpose, Eliana quickly pressed forward at the first sign of approval.
“I’ve always dreamed of staying up all night chatting at a friend’s house.”
The pajama party had to take place at the Count’s estate—there was no other way.
“Yes, I’ll prepare something after the ennoblement ceremony.”
“Thank you, Freya.”
Freya took the bait.
“I’m really looking forward to it.”
For the first time since arriving at the Count’s estate, Eliana offered a genuine smile.
If she could get into Freya’s bedroom, dismantling the time-reversal spell would be child’s play.
One hour later.
Once tea time had ended, Michalis—waiting in the first-floor lobby—was struck by an uneasy feeling as he saw Eliana approach.
‘Did something happen?’
It had only been a little over an hour, yet Eliana looked far too pale.
“I had a lovely time, thank you.”
As she lightly placed her hand on his proffered arm, Michalis held back his concern and offered a polite farewell to the Count and Countess Espensen.
“Haha, the pleasure was all mine,” the Count replied with satisfaction.
“Then, I’ll see you again at the ennoblement ceremony, Duchess.”
“I truly enjoyed myself, Duchess. Let’s meet again at the ceremony.”
“I had a wonderful time as well. Thank you, Countess. Thank you, Freya.”
Nothing seemed particularly unusual—just a round of cordial goodbyes.
The carriage rocked gently as it began to move.
“You don’t look well. Did something happen?”
Unable to hold back any longer, Michalis asked as soon as they departed.
“Are you unwell?”
“I’m just… a bit tired.”
The truth was, she felt like she was about to collapse.
Once she had escaped enemy territory and stepped into the safety of the carriage, all the tension drained from her at once—and crushing fatigue overwhelmed her.
Mental exhaustion from maintaining the real-time image search and dealing with Freya. Physical exhaustion from running full speed across that massive estate.
She felt like she’d been run into the ground.
‘Did I push myself too far?’
Michalis let out a soft sigh as he watched Eliana avoid his gaze.
‘Something definitely happened.’
If someone had looked down on her for coming from a lesser noble house… those emotional wounds, she would never reveal unless she chose to.
“Michal… Could I borrow your shoulder…?”
Eliana’s eyes were already half-closed as she clung to the last thread of consciousness.
“Of course. It’ll take an hour to get back—rest as much as you need.”
As Michalis shifted to the seat across from her, Eliana’s cheek leaned softly against his shoulder.
“……”
And just like that—face pressed to his coat, as if she had truly fainted—Eliana fell into a quiet, exhausted sleep.
“……”
Michalis gently took Eliana’s limp hand and laced his fingers through hers. As he did, his brows furrowed deeply.
‘There’s definitely something going on.’
The heel of her foot—despite wearing low, custom-made shoes crafted from silk and leather—was rubbed raw and stained with blood.
To bleed this much… it was as if she had been running around the entire estate.
His gaze, which had been fixed on the injury, shifted to the clutch bag lying beside her.
The perfect size for carrying magic cards.
‘What exactly are you hiding from me?’
His free hand— the one not touching hers—curled tightly into a fist.
Eliana remained fast asleep, as if unconscious, until the carriage arrived at the estate.
“Your Grace, is… is Her Ladyship all right?”
As Michalis carried Eliana in his arms through the entrance, the butler’s eyes widened in shock.
“She’s only sleeping. Lower your voice. Also, fetch some medicine and bandages.”
“Y-Yes, Your Grace.”
“Amy, was it? Bring warm towels and her nightgown—the most comfortable one.”
Michalis directed the orders toward Eliana’s personal maid, who had come to greet them in the lobby.
‘The Duke… knows my name?’
“Y-Yes, Your Grace.”
Though briefly stunned, Amy quickly obeyed. Following the Duke’s orders took priority over her surprise.
Michalis watched the two servants scurry off, then strode up the stairs in long, urgent steps.
It didn’t take long to reach Eliana’s bedroom on the third floor.
With care, he laid her down on the bed and removed her bloodied shoes.
“…Haa.”
A sigh escaped him as he looked down at the scabbed wound, where the blood had begun to dry.
“What the hell…!”
He started to speak but caught himself, swallowing the rest of his words. If he continued, he might’ve cursed out loud.
“Your Grace, I brought what you requested.”
While Michalis was silently battling a storm of frustration and concern, Amy entered the room carrying what he’d asked for.
“Um… Your Grace, I’ll need to help Her Ladyship change into her nightgown—”
“I’ll do it. You’re dismissed.”
“…Yes, Your Grace.”
Amy stepped back, bowing, and closed the door gently behind her.
Michalis immediately began undressing Eliana with practiced care.
“Mmm…”
The slightly cooled towel brushed her face, causing Eliana to flinch and murmur.
“Michal…?”
Her heavy eyelids fluttered open. Their eyes met in the dim light.
“You look exhausted. Leave everything to me and rest.”
“I… I shouldn’t…”
Her voice spoke refusal, but her body betrayed her. She was like soaked cotton—too heavy, too weak to move.
“It’s all right.”
Gazing into her cloudy eyes, Michalis gently pressed his palm to her eyelids, closing them again.
“…I’m sorry, Michal…”
The moment her eyes shut, she whispered an apology in a faint voice and slipped back into unconsciousness.
“……”
Without a word, Michalis wiped her down with the warm towel, carefully and thoroughly.
Then he took a clean towel and gently cleaned the blood from her injured heel.
“…Ngh.”
When the medicine touched the wound, her foot jerked slightly in pain.
Once the ankle was wrapped in bandages and she was dressed in her nightgown, he pulled the light blanket over her.
‘Eliana… Just how much longer am I supposed to pretend I don’t know?’
Staring down at her peacefully sleeping face, Michalis swallowed the question and turned away, his expression heavy.
It was already late into the night.
Instead of heading to his own room after leaving Eliana’s chambers, Michalis walked straight to his office.
“……”
Sitting at his desk, he picked up a pen and began writing rapidly in coded script.
To: All Members of the Espensen Family.
Report all visited locations and individuals contacted.
Submit daily updates.
There was clearly something happening within House Espensen.
If Eliana wouldn’t tell him, then he would uncover it himself.
Tweet—!
Tying up the encrypted message with string, Michalis retrieved a small whistle from his drawer and blew it.
Flap, flap.
Moments later, a masked owl soared through the open window and landed on the perch.
It was a special owl bred for night missions—commonly used for secure correspondence.
Flap, flap.
Once the message was secured to its leg, the masked owl flew off into the darkness.
June 6, 321st Year of the Imperial Calendar.
The training grounds at the estate were thick with tension from the early morning summons.
“…Total of ten knights, present and accounted for.”
The assembled knights stood in a straight line, staring forward in attention.
“First Division, prepare for sparring. Second Division, stand back—twenty paces.”
“Yes, Your Grace!”
At Michalis’s command, the knights of the Blue Division swiftly removed their blue jackets and handed them to their fellow knights of the standard division.
Rustle. Rustle. Rustle.
The standard division knights slipped the jackets onto their arms and stepped twenty paces back.
“Draw.”
Five knights simultaneously unsheathed their swords.
“Ora manifestation.”
Faint blue auras shimmered along the edges of their white steel blades.
“Come.”
Michalis drew his sword from its sheath and gave the command.
Immediately, six blades collided with thunderous force.
A sparring match—one against five.
An unbelievable training session had begun.
